1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Having been blessed to have this new life in Christ provided by Christ (1 {Peter 1:2-12) Peter challenges the Christian to live. We are to gird up the loins like a runner getting ready to run a race. Think of Hebrews 12:2 which tells us, “To run the race that is set before us.” The ESV uses the word prepare instead of gird. We are to prepare our minds with the added idea of being ready to take action. Our reading, studying God’s Word, praying, and worshiping prepare our minds so that we can then live out the wonderful Christian life we have received.
Believers are to be living like Christ and living for Christ! We live differently and we live to make a difference!!
To live our lives to the fullest we will need to make good decisions regarding what we do. We will need to be sober-minded. This speaks of being clear-minded as well as alert. Peter uses this word later in his letter as he reminds us about our adversary the Devil. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; (think clearly and be alert); be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” As believers, we must be diligent in guarding our hearts and minds. We can never lower our defenses. Hear and heed the call to be sober minded, to be ALERT!
As we are living an action-oriented life serving the Lord with our alert system fully on we look ahead to our glorious future. Dr. W. A. Criswell liked to say, “LOOK UP, BROTHER – LOOK UP!” Look ahead, brother, look ahead. When we consider what is to come – that glorious day when we shall see our Savior face to face – what a day that will be!! The best is yet to come for the believer! Oh, what hope we have!! LOOK AHEAD!
Ready! Set! Go! And keep going until you are gone!
Continue Strong running the race that is set before you!
And remember to DATE the Word